Flying-machine.



' F. E. SUMMERS.

v FLYING MACHINE. APPIIIOATION FILED 00T. 27, 1913,

Patented 0t.2o,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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F. B. SUMMERS.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION PILEUOGT, nms.

1, 1 1 4,20 1 Patnted oet. 20, 191e /2 2 sHEBTs--SHBBT 2.

unirsi) sra'rns PATENT ermee.

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FLYING-MACHINE.

' specification if man wat o. Lreiterated oet. zo, 1914, Appueauon inea onore: 27, 191s. serial no. 797,643.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it ,known that I, FRANK E. Summers, citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Scotland and State of Missouri, have invented certain new andl useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to flying4 machines, and particularllyql to mechanism oraltering e plane supporting surface of the machine.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a glider having in combination with relatively fixed and rigid planes, plane sections which are shiftableat the will of the aviator.

A further object of the 'invention is to provide in connection with a flying machine movable planes having certain `sections thereof pivoted .so that when the plane moves downward the sections will close so as to ress upon the air beneath.

A urther object of 'the invention is the provision in connection withla flying machine of'a vertically movable plane having certain sections thereofy pivotally mounted so that when the plane is moved downward' the sections will exerty a pressure upon the air immediately behind the sections so as to assist in forcing the flying machine 'forward 'A further object of the invention is the provision in connection with a flying machine of fixed 'planes disposed toward the forward end and rear end of the machine,

-and o posed intermediate planes which are hinge ly mounted so that the planes may be these movable planes being constructed of a series of hinged or pivoted sections so formed as not to impede the upward movement-of the hinged planes but to exert a pressure on the airupon a downward movement of the planes.

'A further object of the invention is the provision in a flying machine of a gas field, a frame heavier than air partiallysupported by said field, and movable planes so constructed as to exert when operated either a downward pressure against the air to cause the machine to lift, or a rearward pressure' to cause the machine to move forward.

A "further object of the invention is to provide a flying machine particularly adapt ed to be propelled and raised from the ground through manual actuation by the aviator, in which nearly all of the deadl weight of the machine is supported by means of the gas vfield so that any downward pressure upon the air exercised by the aviator in operating the machine will cause the machine to rise.

A further object of the invention is the l.provision in connection with a machine of the type above referred to, of wings or planes so constructed that a vertical reciprocation or oscillation of the wings' or planes will cause the machine to rise or prevent 1t from falling yand will coincidentally urge the machine forward.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flying machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an under side plan view thereof, the gas field however being removed. ig. 3 is a transverse section of the machine, the front` fixed' plane being removed. Figs. 4 and Li are diagrammatic views showing the operation ofthe lifting sections on the movable 'wings or planes. Figs. 5 and 5- are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the propelling'sections on the lifting wings or planes. g. 6 is a fragmentary detail view of one of the wings.

Corresponding and like 'parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying draw-4 ings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates a gas field of any suitable construction but illustrated as having the ordinary cigar shape. Swung from this gas field in any suitable manner is a framework 3 of any suitable construction designed to support the aviator, the frontend rear planes and the movable planes.

Disposedat the forward end of the framework 3 'is a fixed plane el which extends transversely of the machine. and is constructed in the usual manner of longitudinally extending ribs 5 covered with canvas or other suitable material The rear plane 7 is constructed in precisely the same manner as the plane 4 but is disposed at the extreme rear end of the frame 3.

The front and rear planes are spaced from each other as illustrated clearly in Figs. l and 2, and disposed in this space and freely movable therein are the wings or planes designated generally 8. Bothl of thesewings or planes are constructed in the same Inanner and thereforea description of one wing or lplane will equally apply to the other.-

ach of the wings or planes 8 comprises a basal portion 9, which is relatively rigid and extends longitudinally of the machine. The next section 10 of each wing or plane comprises a series of slats, valves or pivoted sections, each of these slats vor valves being designated 11. These' slats o r valves/extend' transversely of the length of the machine.

The tip of each wing or plane is composed of a plurality of slats designated 12, each slat or section being pivotally mounted upon the frame 13 which forms the framework of the wing. The flaps or valves llare pivotally mounted upon the parallel longitudinally extending frame members 14 by pintle rods 15 which extend between the frame members 14:. Each of the slats or sections 11 has a width greater than the distance between the pintle rods 15 so that when the wings close as illustrated in Fig. 4, a practically rigid plane surface will be provided resisting any downward movement of the wing.4 The slats or valves 11 however upon an upward movement of the wing will take a vertical position ,as illustrated in Fig. 4 and the edges of one valve 11 are connected t0 the frame of the wing rearward of the pintle rod of the next rearward valve 11 by means of cords 16. The purpose of these hinged or pivoted sections or slats 11 is to permit the easy upward movement of the hinged wing, in other words, to feather as the wing or plane moves upward, but to close as the wing or plane moves downward, thus pressin against the air beneath and .assisting in t e elevation of the machine.

The slats or sections 12 are also pivoted each upon apintle rod 17 butthese slats are sovformed that they will pass between the pintle rods so as to take the position shown in Fig. 5 upon an upward movement of the wing and the position shown in Fig. 5a u )on a, downward movement of the wing, t ese slats being held from further movement in either direction by means of the cords 17 attached to the pintle rod in advance. It will therefore be seen that upon an upward moven'ient ot' the wing, these slats or sections 12 will act rearwardly against the air behind the machine or behind the slats, thus forcing themachine forward, and that upon a downward movement of the wing the same action will occur 'so that a reciprocation of the wings 8 will cause not only a lifting force to be exerted upon the machine but will causethe machine to be propelled forward. It will be understood 4that the wing frames 13 are to be pivoted to the main rame in any suitable manner and that I do not wish to limit myself to any particular construe tion for these wing frames or planes.

Preferably the weight of the wings 8v isv 55 counterbalanced by means of one or more springs 18 connected to bell cranlxs 19 which are connected by cords 19 to the tips of the wings. These will normally' hold the Wing frames upwardly and outwardly inclined in the positlon shown in Fig. 3. The wings are operated by means of longitudinally extending bars 20 which the operator grasps, these bars being connectedby means of rods 21 to i portion of the main frame so that the legsA A y. of the operator will depend below the frame of the machine. This is to permit the operator to alight easily upon thel ground or to run a short distance, as for instance from an eminence and glide off into the air. The machine is guided vertically in any suitable manner but I have illustrated for this purpose a rudder 22 which is cruciform in section. This rudder is hinged for movement in a vertical plane and may be operated in any suitable manner by the aviator, as for instance by connecting the rudder with cords 25, in turn having rings through which the feet of the aviator pass. -The wings are braced preferably by a system of cross braces or tension rods 23 and suitable struts 24.

This machine is designed primarily for use as a glider and the wings are to be oscillated vertically like the wingsof a bird. After the proper speed has been gained by the action of the wings 12 on the air, as pre viously described, the wings are intended to be held still in a horizontal )osition and the machine will `glide forwar ly until speed has so decreased as to make it necessary to rise again and be forced upward by the actlon of the wings.

The object of the small planes i) to the' bases of the wings 10 is to provide additional supporting surfaces. is relatively short and will not offer much resistance to working the wings.

The machine can be started from the top of a fast moving vehicle, or theav-iator can run down hill and start against the wind or run with a strong wind and start with it, or can springfrom an elevated place. Inusmuch as the machine is counterbaflanced by means of the gas eld 2, there will be no. danger of falling reeipitately. After the machine is started? the operator oscillates'f the wings 8, and this action will exert suiii'- cient lifting force to raise the machine and This solid surface 9 at the same time will exert a propulsiva the left wing the machine will turn to the right. It 'Fis not necessary to move the rudder in order to steer the machine either to the rightv or left.

lt will b e noted that there are two rings i 26 connected tothe cords 25 through which rings the aviator inserts his feet. One of these ringsand the corresponding cord acts to draw the rudder downward while Vthe other acts' toraise the outer end of the rudder. The lifting force of the gas iield .air without the gas'bag, provided that the propeller is run at a suiiiciently high speed while the oscillation of the wings would tend to raise the machine. To stop the Ina.- chine the aviator slides back toward the rear of the machine a little and raises 'the rudder'which tips the forward end of the machine upward, thus otferingi'a greater resistance to the air. This slows the machine down and the aviator alights on the ground and runs forward until the machine stops.

W'hat 'I claim is:

l. In a flying machine, alframework, forward and rear transversely extending fixed planes mounted on the framework, planes or wings hinged to the framework for movement in a vertical plane and disposed between said fixed planes, each of said movable planes including' a rigid section forming the inner portion of each movable plane and a plurality of hinged sections opening upon an upward movement of the plane but closing upon a downward movement, an a gas bag operatively connected to the frame-work tde'partially support the framework and planes.

2. ln a fiying machine, oppositely disposed wings hingedly supported for vertical move" ment, and meansforoscillating said wings,

' each wing being composed of a plurality of hinged sections, certain of the sections opening upon an upward movement' of the wingv but closing upon a downward movement thereof, certain other sections being hinged at their forward edges and opening partially upon a downward or4 upward movement of the wing to thereby provide a plurality' of angularly disposed surfaces acting to propel the machine.

3. A. flying machine including a framework, a gas ield supporting said framework,

and oppositely disposed wings each pivoted at its inner end to the framework and os- Icillatable in a vertical plane, portions of said wings opening downward upon an upward movement of the wing but closing upon a downward movement of the wing to providea supporting surface, certain other portions of each wing opening partially upon a downward or upward movement of the, wing to provide a plurality of rearwardly extending angularly disposed surfaces acting to propel the machine.

4. A flying machine including a longitudinally extending frame work, a gas field supporting said frame work, forward `and rear transversely extending planes mounted upon said frame work and spaced from each other and oppositely disposed wing frames,

[each frame being pivoted at its inner end to the framework and being oscillatable in a. vertical plane, the inner portion of each of said wings comprising a relatively rigid section, certain other portions of each wing opening upon an upward movement of the wing and closing upon a downward movement thereof, certain ,otherportions' of each wing opening partially upon either a doi'vnward or upward movement of the wing to provide a plurality of rearwardly extending angularly disposed surfaces i'or propelling purposes, a support for the aviator disposed between the oscillatable wings, resilient means urging said oscillatable wings upward, means connected to the frame work of said wings, whereby the aviator may draw them downward and steering mechanism 'operabl by said aviator. I'

In testimony whereof l aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK E. SUMMERS. [1.. 5.] `Witnessesz d. M. JAYNE, B. 0. Rani/ns. 

